Rex Ryan has had many ups and downs as head coach of the Jets since taking the job in 2009, including some memorable games against Bill Belichick and the Patriots. However, Ryan could end up on the hot seat if he can’t reverse the recent slide of his team, which has missed the playoffs the last two seasons.

In a game featuring Sanchez’s Butt Fumble, New England scores three times in 52 seconds in another blowout over their rival.

Ryan’s motivational tactics target Belichick

Ryan once told his players that he was going to punch Belichick in the face at midfield, LaDainian Tomlinson revealed on NFL Network Tuesday night.

Tomlinson spent his final two seasons (2010-11) with the Jets, and was asked what was the craziest thing Ryan said to the team as a motivational tactic.

“We were playing the Patriots one time . . . Rex is a master motivator, and it was going to be a big game, a heated-rivalry game,” Tomlinson said. “Rex got in front of us and he said, ‘I’m going to set the tempo today, I’m going to set the tempo. When I meet Bill Belichick in the center of the field I’m going to start it off and punch him in the face.’

“We loved that, I loved that from Rex.”

Tomlinson was laughing as he told the story, and Ryan was, of course, joking about punching Belichick.

Tomlinson said the Jets won the game, though he didn’t provide details. But the Jets didn’t beat the Patriots in 2011, so it was either Week 2 in 2010 or the divisional-round playoff game that season.